It may also be due partly to prejudice: Mr Cardoso is an ex-professor, Mr da Silva a former lathe operator and trade-union leader who never went to university.

ECONOMIST: Brazil

The Unite union announced it wanted talks with new bus operator CT Plus regarding working hours and rights.

BBC: Passengers boarding a Jersey bus

Western Union's value proposition to a local operator: Rather than sign 200 bilateral agreements to offer remittances in 200 different markets, "connect into our global network, and we will allow that local service to become a global service, " says Matt Dill, general manager of Western Union Mobile.

CNN: Mobile money transfers may infuse developing world

Bosses from the ferry operator and representatives of the shore staff union, the Transport and Salaried Staffs Association, are due to meet on Tuesday for talks.

BBC: Talks due on Caledonian MacBrayne shore staff's pay

Alma Roper, a leader of the union representing the city's operators, said usually the operator asks questions and types the answers where they're automatically passed along to dispatchers.

WSJ: Glitches in new NYC 911 system

Williams Companies came out of left field just after the bell on Thursday and outbid Energy Transfer in an all-cash deal to acquire Southern Union, turning up the heat in what could become a bidding war for the natural gas pipeline operator.

FORBES: Williams Outbids Energy Transfer For Southern Union

Mr Corbel said provision for the transfer of staff, terms, conditions and trade union recognition were included in the bus tender document and he believed it was a requirement of the new operator.

BBC: Jersey bus drivers union unhappy with staff transfer